Friday, March 11, 2011

Hard to even think about VCRs in today's world, but there was a time when they were the height of technology. Behold the Telcan: a fixed-head videotape recorder, intended for use in home-taping of television programs. The recorder, mounted on the top of a television cabinet, used quarter-inch tape running at 120 ips past fixed heads, carrying two 15-minute tracks. Smokin' hot!

The interweb is flush with rumours that this month's 'supermoon' - a full moon coinciding with the moon's closest approach to earth - will bring earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and floods. On March 19, the moon will be 221,567 miles from Earth - the closest it's been since 1992. It could appear 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than usual. But will this cause mayhem on the planet? Has it already caused this devastating earthquake? Not a chance say the experts. The Bad Astronomy blog, which debunks scientific misconceptions, completely rejects any link between the SuperMoon and the Japan quake. Author Phil Plait, an astronomer, states emphatically:

"I do hope I can help mitigate the panic and worry that can happen due to people blaming this earthquake on the so-called "supermoon" -- a date when the Moon is especially close to the Earth at the same time it's full. So let me be extremely clear:

Despite what a lot of people are saying, there is no way this earthquake was caused by the Moon.

The idea of the Moon affecting us on Earth isn't total nonsense, but it cannot be behind this earthquake, and almost certainly won't have any actual, measurable affect on us on March 19, when the full Moon is at its closest."

Dakhla in the Western Sahara is billing itself as the latest hot surfing destination. Before you laugh out loud, have a look at this Reuters video. It has the waves and wind to provide excellent surfing dude. Not sure about the babes in sting bikinis, though. Surf's up Mohamed!

This dentist is a gas. The British General Dental Council is removing Matthew Walton, 35, from the official Dentist's Register next month for farting and belching in front of patients and staff as well as a variety of other offences. The complaints against Walton include:• Breaking wind during appointments• Telling a patient he had bad breath• Making derogatory comments about unemployed patients• Pushing a nervous teenage patient back into his chair, telling him, "You will sit and let me do it."
Walton admits to some of the offences, but but has denied some of the allegations of poor conduct. Read more on BBC